Today's letters: Broken’ system?

Published: Sunday, July 28, 2013 at 4:30 a.m.

Last Modified: Friday, July 26, 2013 at 4:54 p.m.

To the editor: Daily we are told that our immigration system is broken; we hear it in commercials and see it in the paper. Is it all broken? If not, which parts are broken? Who broke it and why did they break it? (I refuse to accept the notion that the “break” was an accident.)

Did you know that many of the “fixes” in the current Senate bill were passed in previous laws? What happened?

Answer: The laws were not faithfully enforced. Why would a Congress and president pass a law and then not enforce its provisions?

Border fencing has been passed twice before but never seems to get built. There are thousands of miles of “sound barriers” on the major highways of America — 15, 20, 25 feet high and 1-2 feet thick, How did we manage to do these to “protect” our ears from road noise, but we can’t do a border fence for national security reasons?

Pathway to citizenship: Why is it assumed that all illegal immigrants want to be U.S. citizens? There is research on how many just want to work here and how many would apply to be citizens.

Don’t buy into the lies.

Jim Griffin

Hendersonville

It’s all for them

To the editor: As chairlady for Operation Toasty Toes, Chapter 7, I feel obligated to address a letter and column some time ago concerning salaries of nonprofit organizations. I want my fellow residents to know not one cent donated or through sales is paid to anyone by our organization.

We are extremely proud that 100 percent is channeled to the program’s needs as we support service members deployed overseas or provide lap robes for our injured warriors. More than 17,000 items have been mailed overseas. More than 500 crocheted and knitted lap robes have been delivered to facilities at Camp Lejuene, Fort Bragg, and Fort Gordon (Augusta, Ga.).

To all who have financially helped, please know that without your generosity we could not continue to make of these yarn comfort items.

Please visit our sale tables during the Apple Festival. We are located within the Historic Courthouse on Main Street, Hendersonville. Henderson County officials support our troops by permitting us space. Please enter through the Second Avenue doorway.

For the first time, we are having a Breast Cancer Awareness table. I did not know until recently that there are five breast cancer survivors in the committee.

Call 696-9777, 696-8858 or 698-4859, visit www.operationtoastytoes.org, or email us at info@operationtoastytoes.org.

Patricia-Lee Pirog

Flat Rock

Failing the people

To the editor: How can I justify my belief in our political system when our system seems to be failing so many people? Tax cuts for the more affluent and corporations are greater than those for the poor. Unemployment benefits have been cut. These are but two of the many ways that so many North Carolinians are being negatively affected by actions of our legislators.

As a Christian and a retired pastor, I have been taught to respect the laws and decisions made by our chosen leaders. But when those laws and decisions go against what I believe to be the teachings of my faith, I am conflicted. The apostle Peter asks the religious leaders, “Is it better to obey man or God?” His answer was to obey God.

I applaud those pastors and others who have answered the same way and have risked being arrested on Moral Mondays. I need to ask myself if my convictions are strong enough to join them. At least I hope to join a more local protest in Asheville for our own Moral Monday event. Why not come and join us Monday, Aug. 5, from 5 to 6:30 p.m. at City-County Plaza in Asheville?

<p>To the editor: Daily we are told that our immigration system is broken; we hear it in commercials and see it in the paper. Is it all broken? If not, which parts are broken? Who broke it and why did they break it? (I refuse to accept the notion that the break was an accident.)</p><p>Did you know that many of the fixes in the current Senate bill were passed in previous laws? What happened?</p><p>Answer: The laws were not faithfully enforced. Why would a Congress and president pass a law and then not enforce its provisions?</p><p>Border fencing has been passed twice before but never seems to get built. There are thousands of miles of sound barriers on the major highways of America  15, 20, 25 feet high and 1-2 feet thick, How did we manage to do these to protect our ears from road noise, but we can’t do a border fence for national security reasons?</p><p>Pathway to citizenship: Why is it assumed that all illegal immigrants want to be U.S. citizens? There is research on how many just want to work here and how many would apply to be citizens.</p><p>Don’t buy into the lies.</p><p><em>Jim Griffin</em></p><p><em>Hendersonville</em></p><h3>It’s all for them</h3>
<p>To the editor: As chairlady for Operation Toasty Toes, Chapter 7, I feel obligated to address a letter and column some time ago concerning salaries of nonprofit organizations. I want my fellow residents to know not one cent donated or through sales is paid to anyone by our organization.</p><p>We are extremely proud that 100 percent is channeled to the program’s needs as we support service members deployed overseas or provide lap robes for our injured warriors. More than 17,000 items have been mailed overseas. More than 500 crocheted and knitted lap robes have been delivered to facilities at Camp Lejuene, Fort Bragg, and Fort Gordon (Augusta, Ga.).</p><p>To all who have financially helped, please know that without your generosity we could not continue to make of these yarn comfort items.</p><p>Please visit our sale tables during the Apple Festival. We are located within the Historic Courthouse on Main Street, Hendersonville. Henderson County officials support our troops by permitting us space. Please enter through the Second Avenue doorway.</p><p>For the first time, we are having a Breast Cancer Awareness table. I did not know until recently that there are five breast cancer survivors in the committee.</p><p>Call 696-9777, 696-8858 or 698-4859, visit www.operationtoastytoes.org, or email us at info@operationtoastytoes.org.</p><p><em>Patricia-Lee Pirog</em></p><p><em>Flat Rock</em></p><h3>Failing the people</h3>
<p>To the editor: How can I justify my belief in our political system when our system seems to be failing so many people? Tax cuts for the more affluent and corporations are greater than those for the poor. Unemployment benefits have been cut. These are but two of the many ways that so many North Carolinians are being negatively affected by actions of our legislators.</p><p>As a Christian and a retired pastor, I have been taught to respect the laws and decisions made by our chosen leaders. But when those laws and decisions go against what I believe to be the teachings of my faith, I am conflicted. The apostle Peter asks the religious leaders, Is it better to obey man or God? His answer was to obey God.</p><p>I applaud those pastors and others who have answered the same way and have risked being arrested on Moral Mondays. I need to ask myself if my convictions are strong enough to join them. At least I hope to join a more local protest in Asheville for our own Moral Monday event. Why not come and join us Monday, Aug. 5, from 5 to 6:30 p.m. at City-County Plaza in Asheville?</p><p><em>Rev. Jerry Miller</em></p><p><em>Hendersonville</em></p>